Expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation in a hydraulically controlled clutch system

Abstract

An expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation includes a cylindrical body having an inlet line integrally connected to and penetrating through a first end wall of the body. At an opposite end of the body from the first end wall is a discharge line integrally connected to and penetrating a second end wall of the body. A diameter of the expansion chamber device is approximately 3.8 cm and a length of the expansion chamber device ranges between approximately 10.2 cm to 15.2 cm. The expansion chamber device reduces vehicle and engine vibrations in a path including a clutch pedal over a frequency range between approximately 50 Hz to approximately 225 Hz.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation, comprising:
 a cylindrical body having an inlet line integrally connected to and penetrating through a first end wall of the body; 
 a discharge line integrally connected to and penetrating a second end wall of the body, the second end wall is an outwardly tapered wall and is positioned at an opposite end of the body from the first end wall; and 
 an inner chamber having a diameter larger than a diameter of the inlet line and larger than a diameter of the discharge line. 
 
     
     
       2. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet line and the discharge line penetrate the respective first end wall and the second end wall centrally aligned with the wall and co-axially aligned with a longitudinal axis of the body. 
     
     
       3. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the second end wall of the expansion chamber device is vertically oriented such that the inlet line and the discharge line are also vertically oriented, allowing the expansion chamber device to self-vent via the discharge line. 
     
     
       4. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the inner chamber of the cylindrical body is approximately 6 times larger than the diameter of both the inlet line and the discharge line. 
     
     
       5. An expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation, comprising:
 a cylindrical body having an inlet line integrally connected to and penetrating through a first end wall of the body; 
 a discharge line integrally connected to and penetrating a second end wall of the body, the second end wall positioned at an opposite end of the body from the first end wall; and 
 an inner chamber having a diameter larger than a diameter of the inlet line and larger than a diameter of the discharge line; 
 wherein the discharge line is positioned at an upper end defining a top center apex of the second end wall, allowing the expansion chamber device to self-vent via the top center apex of the second end wall and the discharge line. 
 
     
     
       6. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet line includes an extending portion which discharges a fluid away from the first end wall and proximate to a center of the inner chamber. 
     
     
       7. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the discharge line includes an extending portion receiving a fluid away from the second end wall and proximate to a center of the inner chamber. 
     
     
       8. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , further including:
 an inlet fitting connected to the inlet line, the inlet fitting having a vent port acting to vent the inlet line; and 
 an outlet fitting connecting to the outlet line, the outlet fitting having a vent port acting to vent the outlet line. 
 
     
     
       9. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the expansion chamber device ranges between approximately 10.2 cm to approximately 15.2 cm. 
     
     
       10. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein a diameter of the expansion chamber device ranges between approximately 2.5 cm to approximately 3.8 cm. 
     
     
       11. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 1 , wherein the inlet line includes an extending portion extending past the first end wall permitting wave reflection from a fluid discharged from the inlet line to propagate in substantially all directions within the inner chamber of the expansion chamber device. 
     
     
       12. An expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation, comprising:
 a cylindrical body having an inlet line integrally connected to and penetrating through a first end wall of the body; 
 a discharge line integrally connected to and penetrating a second end wall of the body, the second end wall positioned at an opposite end of the body from the first end wall; and 
 an inner chamber having the inlet line and the discharge line both in fluid communication with the inner chamber, the inner chamber further having a diameter approximately six times larger than a diameter of the inlet line and larger than a diameter of the discharge line. 
 
     
     
       13. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 12 , wherein:
 a length of the expansion chamber device cylindrical body ranges between approximately 10.2 cm to approximately 15.2 cm; and 
 a diameter of the expansion chamber device cylindrical body ranges between approximately 2.5 cm to approximately 3.8 cm. 
 
     
     
       14. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first end wall of the expansion chamber device is a substantially flat wall; and 
 the second end wall of the expansion chamber device is a substantially flat wall. 
 
     
     
       15. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first end wall of the expansion chamber device is a substantially flat wall; and 
 the second end wall of the expansion chamber device is an outwardly tapered wall oriented vertically allowing the expansion chamber device to self-vent via the second end wall and the discharge line. 
 
     
     
       16. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 12 , wherein the diameter of the inner chamber is approximately six times larger than the diameter of the discharge line. 
     
     
       17. The expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the inlet line is coaxially aligned with a longitudinal center axis of the body; and 
 the discharge line is positioned at an upper end defining a top center apex of the second end wall, allowing the expansion chamber device to self-vent via the top center apex of the second end wall and the discharge line. 
 
     
     
       18. A clutch system of a motor vehicle connected to a clutch pedal, comprising:
 a clutch release line containing a hydraulic fluid; 
 a clutch slave cylinder line in fluid communication with the clutch release line; and 
 an expansion chamber device for clutch pedal vibration attenuation, the expansion chamber device installed in and in fluid communication with at least one of the clutch release line and the clutch slave cylinder line, the expansion chamber device including:
 a cylindrical body having an inlet line integrally connected to and penetrating through a substantially flat first end wall of the body, the inlet line aligned coaxial with a longitudinal center axis of the body; 
 a discharge line integrally connected to and penetrating a second end wall of the body, the second end wall defining an opposite end of the body from the first end wall; and 
 an inner chamber having the inlet line and the discharge line both in fluid communication with the inner chamber, the inner chamber further having a diameter approximately six times larger than a diameter of the inlet line and approximately six times larger than a diameter of the discharge line, the expansion chamber device reducing vehicle and engine vibrations in a path including the clutch pedal over a frequency range between approximately 50 Hz to approximately 225 Hz.